News Alert

News Alert

The EU boosts vaccine research with €30 Million

Brussels, 29 September 2011

A new EU funded collaborative research programme - Advanced Immunization Technologies (ADITEC)- will accelerate the development of novel and powerful immunization technologies for the next generation of human vaccines. €30 Million of European Commission co-funding will enable ADITEC to establish a strong platform for innovation in a key area for human health. A consortium of scientists from 42 research and industry bodies in 13 countries will work together on the project, which will work on a wide range of crucial aspects of vaccination; from basic research and new technologies to clinical trials and public health. The support for this project underlines the importance of the vaccine sector in effective healthcare, and gives a boost in a key innovation area for the European health industry.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, said: “New technologies are opening the door to fight those diseases for which vaccines could not be developed so far. However, researchers in a single laboratory cannot tackle modern vaccine science in isolation, which is why we are bringing together some of Europe's top researchers in this area. By joining forces and pooling knowledge and expertise, we can take a big step towards transforming the medicine of the future."

ADITEC comprises a team of top European universities and research institutions complemented by US groups working on systems biology and adjuvants -components of vaccine formulations that enhance the efficacy of vaccines-. The project is driven by a number of key European industries, both big pharmaceutical and smaller biotechnology companies. These corporations are focusing on specific innovative technologies that allow for better and safer vaccines. The World Health Organization is supporting the project as a senior partner, ensuring that cross-cutting global health aspects are taken into consideration.

This high-impact project will seek to achieve a number of clear goals. It will focus on improved potency and safety of vaccines and their components, novel routes and devices for administration of vaccines optimized vaccination strategies and optimized formulations and vaccination methods for different age groups. It will also look at giving better insight into the effects of gender, chronic diseases and genetic variation on vaccination. Finally, ADITEC will apply new technologies and it will help to establish them widely throughout Europe.